Fish houses must be off by March 4; snowmobiles not allowed on ski trails

With the high winds blowing drifts around fish houses over last weekend and the early predicted “significant winter storm” watch for Thursday and Friday of this week, most people have taken their permanent fish houses off of area lakes.

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By Calls from the WILD, By Ed Picht, CONSERVATION OFFICER, DNR

Montevideo American-News

By Calls from the WILD, By Ed Picht, CONSERVATION OFFICER, DNR

Posted Feb. 21, 2013 at 8:00 AM

By Calls from the WILD, By Ed Picht, CONSERVATION OFFICER, DNR

Posted Feb. 21, 2013 at 8:00 AM

Montevideo, MN

With the high winds blowing drifts around fish houses over last weekend and the early predicted "significant winter storm" watch for Thursday and Friday of this week, most people have taken their permanent fish houses off of area lakes.

All houses will have to be removed from area lakes no later than midnight on March 4. If the shelters are not removed, the owners of the house will be prosecuted, and the structure and contents may be confiscated and re­moved by a conservation officer. A shelter may be left on the ice between midnight and one hour before sunrise only when it is occupied or attended.

Before major snow events or shelter removal dates we will commonly see shelters pulled up onto public access points and left over night. This is a violation. Storing or leaving shelters on a public access is prohibited. Please make arrangements before to bring the shelter home when you retrieve it.

I do recognize that there are circumstances where a fish house needs to be left because of broken equipment. If you do run into an issue in my work area, please call me so we can make arrangements.

Also please pick up any litter around your house. If you see a house that has left extensive litter around on the ice please report it to me.

As always, enjoy your time outdoors and help us keep them clean for others to enjoy.

Over the weekend I received complaints of snowmobiles riding on cross country ski trails at Upper Sioux State Park and the Wegdahl Buffalo Run Trail.

If you see snowmobiles on either of the trails, please write down the registration or take a photo of them.

The Wegdahl trail is private RIM land and violators will be charged with trespassing. Please help pass the word. We would rather not charge anyone but we would like the snowmobiling community to respect our trails. Thanks.